In the early morning hours of November 29, 2015, in Columbia, SC, the life of 25-year-old Antwain Caroline was tragically cut short. The events leading to his death began the day prior, on November 28, 2015, inside a home he shared with his mother and another man, Melvin James White. An argument erupted between White and Caroline, with White feeling that Caroline was being disrespectful towards his mother.
The disagreement escalated to the point where White threatened to kill Caroline as he was leaving the residence.
The situation came to a fatal head when Caroline returned to the home in the early hours of the following morning. His mother went outside to speak with him, and it was then that White, armed with a shotgun, followed them out and shot Caroline in the chest. The gunshot wound proved to be fatal, and Antwain Caroline died within minutes.
Following the shooting, law enforcement arrested Melvin James White and charged him with murder. During the investigation, White admitted to shooting Caroline but made the claim that he had acted in self-defense. The case proceeded to trial, where a Richland County jury heard testimony from several witnesses, including Caroline's mother and the defendant, Melvin James White.
On October 24, 2019, the jury reached a verdict, finding Melvin James White guilty of the lesser charge of Voluntary Manslaughter. Following the conviction, the presiding judge sentenced White to the maximum allowable term of 30 years in prison. Antwain J. Caroline, Sr. was survived by his son, Antwain J. Caroline, Jr., his mother, Esther Oree Caroline, his father, Antonio Caroline, and a brother, Almondo L. Oree, along with other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at the Antioch Baptist Church, and he was laid to rest in the Lincoln Cemetery.
